Republican David Perdue has invested $1 million of his own money into his campaign for Georgia's open Senate seat, which features a crowded GOP primary.

Perdue, the former CEO of Dollar General and a cousin of former Gov. Sonny Perdue, announced Thursday that he donated $500,000 and loaned $500,000 to his campaign in the third quarter.

The personal investment boosted his fundraising haul to more than $1.8 million and left him with $1.3 million in cash on hand as of Sept. 30.

“I wouldn’t expect others to invest in a cause that I was not willing to invest in myself," Perdue said in a statement. "However, I do not believe in self-funding a campaign. After these first weeks, I am confident that people are responding and we will have the resources needed to get our message out to the voters."

Democrat Michelle Nunn reportedly raised $1.7 million in her first quarter of fundraising since joining the race to replace retiring GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

The GOP primary also includes Reps. Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel. Kingston announced Tuesday that he raised $800,000 and had $2.9 million in cash on hand.